This is the first in a multipart series that examines who we are, where we are, and our future hope as Christians. To do that, we need to start at the beginning: Genesis. The Hebrew word that is translated as Genesis is the word bereshit, which essentially means beginning. It’s the very first word in the bible. This sets the stage, and we see the creative acts of God. He is able to overcome and subdue the chaotic forces that are in place at the beginning of creation. He places things in order, he names things, and decides what is good, and blesses various elements of His creation. He also brings forth life. We will find parallels to these acts later in the Genesis story.

In verses 24-26 of the first chapter (day 6), we see the creation of land creatures. However, the pinnacle of creation is man, and he is created after the animals. Man is last, but first amongst the creatures created by God. In verse 26, God says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” There are a few things that need to be addressed about this declaration. The first is that the Hebrew word adam is a generic word for humanity. So, in this one being, all of humanity is represented. Going forward, I will try to use the word humanity or man (to encompass both male and female) instead of adam. I think it will serve to get some points across. We also see in Genesis 2:7 that God created man from the dust of the earth. Although the word dust has a generic feel to it, we see that it is probably synonymous with the word clay (see Job 10:9 and 33:6). The impression is that God did more than just bring humanity to life. He molded us as a potter would mold clay. He took great care in making us who we are. This makes perfect sense. Think about it. If you were going to create something in your own image and likeness, you’d want to carefully and thoughtfully craft that image. Although we sometimes don’t take the greatest care in representing God to others, He took great care in representing Himself in us. If we can just get out of our own way, we would do a much better job of being His representatives here on earth.

The second thing we need to address is the plurality that is being addressed when God uses the words us and we. It has been suggested that the use of the plural words in the declaration are similar to the “we” used by royalty. It has also been suggested that perhaps God is addressing his heavenly court (we’ll address that in depth in a later post). I don’t have a definitive answer one way or another. But my opinion has changed over time. There was a time when I believed in the royal “we” theory. Recently, however, I’ve been leaning more towards the likelihood that God is addressing his heavenly court. I will explain why my thoughts have shifted later in this series. Again, these are my thoughts, not doctrine.

The last thing that I think needs to be addressed is the word used for image. That word in Hebrew is tselem. Tselem is the same word used for idol in the Old Testament. Now, obviously, the man that God created isn’t an idol. However, it gives clearer meaning to the admonition against creating images of God and worshiping or creating false gods and idols. God has already created images of Himself on the earth. Guess what? It’s us! What’s more, when we create and worship idols and gods, we debase ourselves. We end up creating and worshiping things that are lower than ourselves. Remember copy machines? Have you ever made a copy of a copy? It likely won’t have the same integrity as the original. What if you made a little image of yourself or something else that was already perfectly created by God? Would it have the same power or life to it? Then why have we, who were made in the image and likeness of God, at times chosen to worship not only something less than God, but something less than ourselves! Does that make any sense? We’ll delve into that a little later in this series, but I hope you are starting to get the picture.

God also prohibits the murder of other images (meaning all of humanity) of Himself. If you think of everyone you meet as an image and likeness of God, you might start to think differently about how you treat those people. Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees in Matthew 27: 37-39 makes a lot more sense when you start to understand who you really are: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” So, according to Jesus, two of the greatest commandments are for the images of God to love God with everything we have and to love God’s other images as we love ourselves.

Let’s look at this another way. The English word anthropomorphism means giving human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. The word is derived from two Greek words that mean human (anthropos) and form (morphe). When we say something like, God walked by, we are applying human characteristics to God. The real significance of what is happening in verse 26 is that God is giving us His characteristics. He is making us like Him! This is more than figurative. Remember what I said earlier about God’s actions in the beginning of Genesis? Starting in 1:28, you see that God is bestowing similar powers to us. Before we go too far. We first need to acknowledge that God blessed them. The word used for blessed is the Hebrew word barak which implies the bending of the knee. We generally look at being blessed as bestowing a gift. God then goes on to tell his creations the following:

1. Create – God created and instructs humanity to do so as well when He tells humanity to be fruitful and multiply. By the way, the meaning of the name Eve is derived from Hebrew words (chawah or chayah) meaning “to breathe” or “to live”.

2. Maintain – Humanity is ordered to tend or sustain the garden. This is key because God doesn’t just create and disappear. He takes an active role in sustaining what he has created (see Hebrews chapter 1). Christ is another image of God. In fact, He is The Image of the invisible God. It says that He is the radiance or the very imprint of the invisible God. One of the words used to describe Christ in the first chapter of Hebrews is the Greek word apaugasma. The word apaugasma means a light shining forth or a reflected light. Whichever of the two meanings you ascribe to the word, light is necessary for us to see, much like the light that shines from the sun. Without light, we’d feel some of the effects of the sun, but we wouldn’t truly be able to understand it like we do. Black holes are kind of like that. Because of their nature, they don’t emit light like a normal star would. Therefore, scientists have to look at things being affected around black holes to know that they are there. Likewise, without Christ, that light shining forth, we would feel and be able to piece together some aspects of God, but wouldn’t really know who He truly was? Without revelation, we’d be fumbling around in the dark and making the best assessments we can of who God really is.

3. Tend or sustain – There is one more thing that we should note before we leave Hebrews. That very powerful first chapter also tells us that God sustains all things by the “word of His power”. The phrase “by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3) has always amazed me. I know that some later translations use the phrase “by His powerful word”. However, I prefer the first translation. This amazing and powerful God, by this one attribute of His power: His word, keeps the universe in place. It’s almost as if God created everything and then said, “Stay!” And guess what? The universe did as commanded. It realizes what we sometimes forget: God is in control of all things.

Solomon’s Temple had two columns in front of the temple. One was named Jachin and the other Boaz. Translated, the names on the columns mean: “He establishes and He sustains”. It would have served as a reminder to all the priests who entered the temple of the creative and sustaining nature of God. It’s a reminder that God is still active. He not only makes something, he nourishes it as well. So, be confident that the work God has begun within you hasn’t been abandoned. This very God who created everything in the beginning and sustains everything still has time to care about you and me. Even more, He tailors his communication to our personal needs. He knows each one of us intimately. How wonderful is that?

As human beings, images or God, or God writ small, we are challenged to do the same thing: sustain and nourish. This applies to our families and other relationships. Lots of people can create babies. However, not everyone can truly be a father or mother to his or her children. We have to nurture our children in order for them to reach their full potential. The same goes for our marriages and other relationships. We have to tend the garden, so to speak. Without care and attention, marriages and relationships can gradually fall apart through neglect.

4. Subdue (bring under control) – We know that God did the very same things earlier in Genesis. He parted the waters, separated the light from darkness, etc. We too are called to do similarly, but on a smaller scale. However, this is a power that we ignore more often than not. Can I ask you a question? What was Adam made of? The dust or clay of the earth. And yet we are called to subdue the earth. Well, humanity began as dust or clay. Dust or clay are part of the earth that God gave us power to subdue. Therefore, our bodies shouldn’t rule us. It should be the other way around. Obviously, there are things we need to do to maintain a healthy body. However, we shouldn’t be slaves to food, sex, or anything else of a carnal nature.

Believe it or not, we are also given the ability to subdue or overcome sin. After Cain brings the wrong offering. God lets him know that if he does good deeds, he will be rewarded. He also tells him that sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to have him. However, he is master over the sin and can overpower it. That makes sense, right? It would be a terrible trick for God to allow sin to exist and hold you accountable for sins committed without you being able to have any control over sin. We see this theme and reminder again in 1st Corinthians 10:13.

5. Rule or Dominion – Naming of things – in the ancient near east, it was believed that the person who names a thing is superior to or has power over the thing named. Some even went so far as to believe that something without a name didn’t really exist. The Genesis story follows that line of thinking to some degree. God, who is the creator and master of all things, is the one who names some of His creations. He then gives a name to humanity, beings that occupy a lower status, and allows humanity to name those things that He has placed under humanity. We still do this now, right? For instance, we name our children. We don’t usually allow our children to come up with their own names.

All of these powers and abilities are given to us from the one who created everything. We are gods on a smaller scale. Another way to look at is that we are franchisees of a sort. We don’t control and rule over the universe. However, God has given us power over a part of his creation. If you don’t find this amazing, I don’t know what will excite you.

Remember when I wrote that I now believe that God’s use of the words “us” and “our” is more likely because he is addressing a heavenly court or his other, created, spiritual beings, as opposed to the royal we? Well, I think it’s fairly clear that God isn’t a loner. He seems to want His creation to take part in His work. Even Christ gives His apostles similar authority to the authority He displayed. These apostles, these Christians, are commissioned to continue Christ’s work. God can easily do everything by Himself. But he has chosen to be a participative and sharing God! He wants a personal relationship with humanity and He wants to make us heirs. This is something worth being excited about. It’s something worth telling others about as well.